by A. C. Wilson
“Tell me how I can help.” Rayne smiled brilliantly and Blake was lost for a moment in the sunshine. Her warmth chased away some of the chill.
“Do you have Matt’s phone number? How do I contact him?” Blake took out his cell phone from his front pocket and Rayne nodded.
“I’ll punch it into your phone and my number too. His wife is very close to having their baby. He’s not usually so scattered.” Rayne punched everything into the phonebook as she talked. Blake took all the information in.
“Do you have any idea who Bailey’s family is? Where they live? Anything that I can use I would appreciate.” Blake asked when she handed his phone back. She looked thoughtfully at the stairs and slowly shook her head.
“No, I don’t know that, but I can find out. Go back to the center and I’ll do some digging. I’ll let Matt know you are looking for him too.” She looked just as determined as he felt. He had an ally in Rayne. It felt good.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bailey tried to ignore the feeling of bubbling panic deep inside her gut. She focused on the work orders, the feed invoices, and copying informational packets for veterans looking to receive help at Johnson Therapy Center. Tons of mail went out daily from this office and if Matt were not here, then it fell to her to try and keep up. It was difficult to do in the best of times. It was harder to do with her mind constantly being pulled in a cruel tug-o-war between her family and Blake.
Hitting the copier button a bit harder than needed, Bailey leaned up against the short wall. Her cheek and eye hurt with a ferocious ache. She couldn’t remember when she had come away with a physical bruise from a fight with her father. Most of the damage was mental and as hard as she tried to protect herself, no war could be fought on multiple fronts by one person. It was the impossibility that worked like a virus on an already weakened system. She felt the familiar wave of hopelessness start to break over her and Bailey couldn’t fight it anymore. She didn’t want to fight it with the acute mental stability of a squashed insect.
Large, hot tears rolled down her cheeks to drip off her chin onto her t-shirt. At first she could keep the sobs at bay, but even that was more work than she was capable of at the moment. The sharp hiccupping sobs took her breath and jarred her chest. Her legs gave up trying to support her and she slid to the short, thin carpet. A wall of despair enshrouded her and the darkness eclipsed the good she was desperately trying to find.
Will there never be an end to this madness?
Will Taryn and I ever find peace?
The questions were two of many more and none of them had easy answers if there were answers at all. Bailey wiped the backside of her hand across her mouth. The salty tears creating a mess of her face. She sniffled loudly and tucked her head into her knees that were pulled close to her chest. Instinctively she hugged her body as tightly as her battered face could stand and she wept.
“Are you Blake Phails?” The tall brown-haired man asked as he stepped out of his red Chevy truck. Blake was waiting at the sidewalk just outside of the office. He glanced once at the small building hoping to see Bailey inside, but he wasn’t sure if she was still there or not.
“I am. You must be Matt Johnson?” Blake held out his hand and the young man shook it firmly. Worry could be seen in those bright blue eyes. Rayne had shared enough of the story to put Bailey’s employer on edge.
“Yes, Rayne called me and told me what was going on.” Matt speared his hand into his hair as he took off his hat. The sunshine was well near scorching in August.
“Look, your brother doesn’t believe me about Bailey being assaulted. She won’t admit it to me either, but I know the look of fear. When Declan and I asked her about it, she was afraid of something.” Blake put his case out there. Matt looked like a reasonable man. He hoped he didn’t make a mistake with that assumption.
“Or afraid of someone.” Matt moved sideways to the huge cottonwood that stood over the office’s sidewalk and effectively blotted out the sun. “I have had my suspicions, but as her employer I haven’t asked any questions. As her friend, I have respected the boundaries she has set.” Matt looked out over the barn and the round pens. Blake looked down towards the dry grass underfoot.
“Surely you know what the rumors say around town. From what I gather it is bordering on nasty.” Blake’s voice hardened as he recalled what Declan and Rayne had mentioned. A bead of sweat trickled from his forehead down the side of his cheek. He wiped it away.
“Small town gossips can be cruel with very little evidence to back it up. I wanted to believe that if there was something wrong, Bailey would come to me about it.” Matt looked at Blake, his blue eyes concerned. “Although I haven’t been around much as of late. My wife being very close to her due date and all.”
“I intend to see what is going on and I know Declan will help me too. I just need to have your permission to provide some security around Bailey. Nothing tactical, but stopping by here and there. I’d like to make it my duty to ensure nothing dangerous is happening here or anywhere else.” Blake looked Matt in the eye and for a moment, it was as if he had this connection to the man. Blake hadn’t forgotten his long lost family, but it was effectively pushed to the backburner. His heart clenched and he didn’t want to analyze just why right now.
“I trust Declan and if he vouches for you, then I can’t see where it will do any harm. I’m sure Bailey could use some help around here during the day and if you want to use that time to keep an eye on her, I will agree to it.” Matt lifted his forefinger. “Provided you keep in touch with me and tell me exactly what is happening.” Matt looked expectantly at Blake and Blake nodded in agreement. “One more question for you, Blake. Why do this for her? Why not call the police and tell them your suspicions?”
Blake took in a deep breath and thought about his answer for a minute. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t asked the same question. This wasn’t exactly what he had planned to do here.
“She’s special and something just doesn’t add up. If it is something the authorities should be apprised of, I will do so. If it isn’t, then I am only out of my own time.” Blake hoped that the answer would calm the waters. He hoped that he could believe it too. He had spent most of his life alone, but in this ironic twist of fate, he felt more at home here than anywhere he had ever been.
“I look forward to hearing from you. Let me know if you need anything.” Matt smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The stress of his wife’s pregnancy and now an employee in some trouble, Matt Johnson looked exhausted.
“Will do.” Blake answered back and watched as Matt got back into his truck and drove away.
Looking out to the barn again, Blake wondered if he should find Declan and work out some sort of plan. Still they really had no idea what the threat actually was and for that it would take some infiltration into Bailey’s world. It was best if that took place first hand instead of sneaking about in the bushes. He grinned at that thought. There weren’t any bushes here so that idea would be tough to implement. He was used to stealthy operations, but he was rather tired of hiding. The best approach would be to outright ask Bailey what happened. She would need to trust him and he wasn’t exactly sure how to do that portion.
All you can do is try.
Shrugging off the negative vibe, Blake turned to the office and decided he should probably check in there. If she wasn’t inside, then he would speak to Declan. He had a feeling the man would be a wealth of inspiration if not information. Smiling as he turned the gold door knob, Blake felt some triumph at it not being locked up. Locked would mean that no one was inside. His heart flipped and he secretly took joy in it. His boot stepped over the threshold and soon he was inside.
The overhead lights were off, but the curtains had been pulled back from the windows. The sunshine more than enough to light the room. There were only a couple of desks piled high with mailing envelopes, papers and a copier situated in the corner. It was that corner that caught his attention and the hairs on his neck stood up. Blake felt the
familiar cold fingers of apprehension tickle his spine as he took half a step closer and to the left. Jean clad legs and booted feet could be seen from his position.
Bailey.
He was certain it was her and he had this distinct impression that she wanted to be alone. The soft sniffles only punctuated what he thought and so he resigned his presence to an overly padded office chair. His tall form didn’t fit so well in it, but he had had worse. Crossing his arms over his chest, Blake fought the urge to move the fifty feet across the room and take her in his arms. She just seemed like she could use a friend right now.
Me. She could use me right now.
Blake mentally growled in torment. His inner voice was a curse most days. Of course he wanted Bailey to want him and it was more of a primal thing than anything else. She was vulnerable, beautiful, and broken. He loved to be needed and he had gone far too long without the softness of a female beside him. Another mental growl and he could have sworn his conscience laughed at his irritation. Still as much as he wanted to chalk this up to physical attraction, Blake wasn’t so stupid as to dismiss Bailey’s ability to get under his skin.
Completely in a good way!
His fingers dug into his biceps as his frustration grew. He felt like he was waging some war in his head and it might just drive him nuts. He had come to Hot Springs to discover a father that may or may not know of his existence. Now he was finding purpose in digging up a truth that no one else wanted to know. Said truth was connected to a woman who had lit his world on fire that moment he saw her.
You are so screwed, buddy.
Blake couldn’t agree more and for once, he felt like this might just be the place he was truly meant to be.
Bailey heard someone come into the office and she froze. Her sobbing subdued to sniffles as she tried to tuck away the tears. Her ears reached for any sound, any clue as to who the intruder was. Matt had texted her earlier and told her that he wouldn’t be in until later. It wasn’t Declan. He had a habit of calling out to her when he was even remotely close. So that left a nosy, stubborn soldier or someone looking for information on the center. Either way she didn’t really want to speak to anyone right at this moment.
I probably look like a puffy tomato anyway.
Petulance was better than failure any day. She would take it. She felt her tears subsiding as she also noted the nosy soldier taking a seat at Matt’s desk. Bailey opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. Obviously he knew she was in here. It was difficult to hide in such a small room; however much she wanted to disappear.
Arrogant, assuming son of a …..
She couldn’t propel herself forward with that rant. It didn’t feel right and it didn’t feel fair. All he had asked was what had happened. It had been up to her to tell the truth or not and she had decided to protect the dirty little secret she had lived with almost her whole life. She shivered involuntarily and wrapped her arms around her elbows. People didn’t believe her. They hadn’t reached out to help her or her sister.
What did the truth really matter anyway?
Instinctively Bailey knew that it would matter to Blake Phails. It might even matter to Declan, but she had never confided in him. She couldn’t afford to give her trust away. It had to be earned. It had to be wanted. She thought Blake knew that and valued the secrets she was protecting. Bailey also knew he had his own demons to battle. Tipping her head back against the wall, Bailey decided that in some vital way they might not be that different after all. She took a deep breath.
“How did you know where to find me?” Bailey wiped her eyes and pushed the stray hairs back from her face. She made no move to get up from the floor although her butt was going numb. She heard the chair creak as he shifted.
“Lucky guess.” His deep voice soothed the sore spots in her head and she closed her eyes.
“Lucky me.” Her voice was low and she didn’t think he had heard her clearly. He made a sound in his throat that made her picture that grin of his spreading over his face.
“Someone once told me that luck has nothing to do with where we end up in life. I am starting to wonder if he was right after all.” Blake’s voice took on a pensive mood and she ached to know why she wanted to know that secret. Silence filtered in for a couple of minutes. Walls were being rebuilt.
“I wish I knew who to blame for bringing me here.” Bailey sniffled, rubbing her burning eyes. Blake was quiet for a moment. It seemed their wavelength was as strong as ever.
“I honestly hope that someday I am able to thank someone for leading me wherever I end up. I have never had something go so well that I wanted to be thankful.” Blake shifted in the chair again and Bailey heard the rollers on the short carpet protest. Her heart cracked more at his words. Again she leaned her head back against the wall to look up at the ceiling. She had stopped praying years ago. No one ever came to help. She and her sister suffered alone.
“All I ever wanted was to be happy. Freedom is something that I crave, but the price is too high to keep it.” Her voice wavered and she felt the hot flood bank behind her eyelids. She had to close them to keep from pouring it out. “My freedom isn’t worth torturing my sister over.” Bailey clenched her fists and locked her jaw. She had to remind herself to ease up or she would surely break her teeth. Anger could get the better of some people and she was one of them. It blinded her to the bigger picture. Anger only seemed to narrow her scope.
“You aren’t alone anymore, Bailey. I want to help you, but I need to know what is happening.” Blake sighed on a rush of words. “I know you might not trust me. We just met after all, but I will make sure you are safe.” He stood up from the desk chair and tried to meet her eyes. She wished he couldn’t see what a wreck she was sitting there in the corner. He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. Bailey focused on that chest. Strong, muscular, and it was every girl’s dream to be held against it. It had been such a long time since she was held with any emotion outside of malice and hatred.
“I am out of that house, but what about my sister? I haven’t been able to make anyone see reason. Taryn deserves to be safe and loved.” Bailey drew a shaky breath and pushed herself up from the floor. She was nervous and her heart hammered in her chest. Her blood pulsed noisily in her ears. Blake remained where he was, but his eyes softened while holding hers. Never had eyes so blue felt so warm before.
“We will figure out something, Bailey, I promise. I have only failed at one mission.” His eyes turned stony and his jaw firmed. Bailey shivered at the intensity of his emotions. “I intend never to fail again.”
She watched and she waited. Bailey could literally hear the seconds tick by from the clock on the wall. His emotions rioted from one wave to another. A violent storm was brewing inside of Blake and she wished she could reach out to calm it. He ached as deeply as she and it was a suffering she wanted to know more about.
“Where do we start? I just want to live my life.” Bailey walked stiltedly forward, her legs stiff and buzzing with sitting so long on the floor. Blake came back to her then, his eyes widening as he watched her. His arms slipped from his chest fractionally. Bailey’s gaze slipped to his lips that were pressed together in a thin line. Blake spoke of trust and she had never trusted easily. Liberty could attest to that. Something about this man before her inspired at least the need to try. She wondered just how things were going to work out. She wondered if the world knew something that she didn’t. She wondered most about Blake Phails.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“What are you talking about, Rayne? I don’t think I am following you.” Nora sighed, her head lowered near the oven door with her pot holders at the ready. The fragrance of warmed cinnamon and sugar wafted out. Rayne held her coffee mug in both hands, staring into the dark liquid and wishing it was something stronger. Of course it was rather early in the morning for that.
“I met this guy the other day at the grocery story. He is incredibly sweet with a great sense of humor.” Rayne waved her hand. No
ra stood up and made a fast forward signal with her index finger. Rayne shook her head. “He is looking for his family from a picture. Apparently it doesn’t have an individual’s name just Hot Springs written on it. So to be helpful, I took him to meet Garrett.” Rayne looked up to see Nora’s delicately arched brow rise in silent question.
More like silent suspicion.
“Why did you do that again?” Nora asked, leaning back against the counter. The timer on the oven ticked away the seconds. Rayne swallowed hard.
“I figured since your family has been here for quite some time, perhaps they would know his family.” Rayne thought that was a reasonable assumption. The Johnsons really did know just about everyone although it wasn’t the whole reason for taking Blake to see Garrett.
“Dad does for sure. Did you get a look at the photo?” Nora asked Rayne as she turned back to the oven. Rayne shook her head. Nora wasn’t very good at baking, but today she was attempting to make her husband, Randy’s favorite Snickerdoodle cookies. Rayne pitied Randy’s stomach. She wrinkled her nose and hoped Nora wouldn’t offer one to her.
“He didn’t have it with him. He told Garrett that he would bring it by for us to look at.” Rayne shifted on her stool. She was starting to forget why she had actually come over to Nora’s new house. Randy had built it to surprise his wife, but it was just a couple of months ago when they were on the rocks. Rayne thought it was a romantic gesture on Randy’s part. The kitchen was spacious with its open layout. Beautiful stainless steel winked against the clean, white tiles and stone countertops. Rayne sat at the island on one of the silver stools.